THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



create the diagonal effects, in order to be en rapport 

 with the movement in diagonal biped. 



The horses exhibited by these masters executed 

 all the movements of the high and low airs, but 

 were maintained continually in the state of equilib- 

 rium; and they had gait, speed, and manners. So, 

 to emphasize the distinction between their systems 

 and those of the circus, the masters gave to their 

 principles the name equitation savante. The term 

 has been accepted by horsemen the world over, 

 both in the armies and outside. Unfortunately, 

 the only translation into English seems to be the 

 very inadequate "scientific equitation. " 



As a matter of terminology, the right diagonal 

 biped means the right fore leg and the left hind 

 one; the left diagonal biped, left fore and right 

 hind. Consequently, the right diagonal effect has 

 to mean the effect produced by the right rein and 

 the rider's left leg; while the left diagonal effect 

 is that of the left rein and his right leg. 



The equilibrium, which is the foundation of the 

 whole scientific equitation, can be obtained only 

 as the result of two forces opposed to one another, 

 the one pushing the horse forward and the other 

 holding him back. The first of these forces arises 

 from the effect of the rider's legs: the second from 

 the effect of his hands by way of the reins and the 

 bits. If, let us say, the rider exerts ten degrees of 

 effect with his legs to send the horse forward, and 

 at the same time exerts ten degrees of effect with 



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